San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-10-08


rum, and that is duty paid"
He meant the last fact rs an admoni-
ton. | took it rs a confession that the
rum was of inferior quality
II have received, he went on, 1.-TWO
letters, part Of which propose to com
municate to you. In fact, young lady,
they Immediately concern You The first
is from Mr.. William"
He opened n great leathern pockctbODk
and produced two letters.
81 received this" he said, "ten days
ago, being then in the village of Bright
helmstOne, and Immediately resolved upon
travelling hither to acquaint you with the
wishes of Mr.. William.
Gle informs me, first, of the lament
able chain of events which have led the
young gentleman into this melancholy DO
sitiOn. Had we known of it in time, such
is the influence of the house, and so sig
nal were the services of the late Sir God
frey Of pious memory, that we might
and certainly should have procured the
immediate release of Mr. William, and
probably the pardon Of the others. But
his pride would not allow him to commu-
nicate the news to us. The letter Is writ
ten on the road to Portsmouth, whence he
is to be drafted-great heavensl the son
of Sir Godfrey sailor before the mast!-
on board one of the ships in his majesty's
fleet. He says then;
"'BefOre this unlucky accident it was
my singular good fortune to engage the
affections of young person in whose
soul, believe, virtue and goodness alone
reign" Mr.. Huntspill read this passage
very impressively, repeating the last
words-"virCue and goodness alone
reign" He bowed and l blushed, not
with satisfaction at hearing these gra-
cious words, but in humiliation, thinking
how little deserved them, and how had
wreaked a revenge in which virtue played
so poor part.
Mr. Huntspill went on: "'The worth
of her heart is illustrated and made ap-
parent to the world by the extraordinary
beauty of her face and person oh,
Will WILL" She has promised to make
me happy by becoming my wife The
promise remains 10 be fulfilled on my re-
turn, should benignant Providence
grant my return to my native shores
have told you, my generous friend, the
whole of my story. You will, am sure,
continue to behave to me with the same
- That is not part of the business"
said Mr.. Huntspill, interrupting at this
pOluU. IlC SDtS vi pTtStHIlNs nave
written to my mother-who must on no
account discover the degrading situation
in which | have been placed--stating,
which is perfectly true, that l am going
to sea for long voyage, in which l may
visit many lands, and that hope to pay
my dutiful respects to her on my return.
have also informed her of my proposed
marriage with Pleasance Noel, and begged
bnr rnnrl of har III
continued love, to receive my betrOthed
in her own house, and, during my alb
sence, have her instructed in the practice
of those external accomplishments which
alone are wanting to make her an orna-
ment to the polite world. Goodness, my
dear friend, is at all times better than
rank
"It is, indeed" said John Huntspill,
folding up the letter ''With this, which
was forwarded to me from London, came
a letter from Lady Campion herself, a
portion of which | will also read to you.
cit has long been my resolution, she
says, ito attempt no further interference
with my sons plans of life. His devotion
to a musical instrument, especially when
that instrument is the common fiddle,
seems to me inconsistent with the sObriety
of a London merchant; his readiness at all
times to fOrsake the counting house for a
concert or play seems to me unworthy OF
the seriousness which should characterize
churchman, while his rowing habits hold
out little hope of q steady future. | have
now learned that he has gone to sea, after
contracting an engagement of the most
serious character with a young woman,
apparently Of humble origin"
'My father was a ships carpenter,"I
said, half in pride and half in explanation.
Before knew VIII had always regarded
that rank as exceptionally dignitied. But
! was quite aware that Lady CampiOn
would hardly be likely to think so highly
of the position.
Quite So" said John Huntspill. "a
most respectful and useful vocation. Let
me continue: In justice to her and to my
self, should wish to make her acquaint-
anCe. Will you, therefore, make it your
business to see her? Communicate with
her friends, and tell them that | propose
to receive her in my poor house. And
should she wish to remain and / to keep
her with me- l undertake to bestow upon
her whatever lessons and education she
may require to befit her for the station to
which heaven hath raised her You may
protection
"Such, Miss Pleasance," said John
Huntspill, lis the proposal made to you
by Lady Campion. 1t will be my first
care to lay it before your friends"
81 have no friends" l replied. "Dan
and Job and Jephthah are all at sea-"
"Do you mean that you are alone, alb
solutely alone, in this house?"
ItOuita olpnn ~ coi6 HOp1y- In,
cottage there are Isaac Agus and his wife.
live alone and sleep alone. l thought 1
should go on living alone for some years"
But you will not refuse Lady Cam
pion's invitation? Consider, it is made at
Mr.. Williams own request. She will be-
your mother"
NO" | said 81 cannot refuse it.
But / am afraid. Oh, Mr.. Huntspill,
am a very ignorant country girl! The
goodness and virtue that my Will thinks
are in my heart exist only in his own
mind. He is foolish about me. am not
fit for him-so handsome and so strong"
"Nay," said John Huntspill, bravely,
''the chiefest profit of virtuous love, as /
understand it-being myself but
bachelor, and unworthy of the married
cOnditiOn-is that it leads the heart inn
perceptibly upward, inasmuch as we fain
would possess the qualities which he-or
she-who loves us doth in his fondness
attribute to us. Therefore, be of good
courage, and resolve that when Mr..
William returns he will find his dreams
more than realized"
This wise speech, so far from encourage
ing me, rather daunted me for the mo
ment. Afterward when / came to remem-
Der it, and make out what it meant, 1
think it did give me courage.